Braves' Albies OK after fouling ball off knee

Atlanta Braves prospect Ozzie Albies made an early exit from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Washington Nationals, departing in the middle of his seventh-inning at-bat after fouling a Shawn Kelley pitch off his knee.

Albies, 20, tried to shake it off and stay in the game, but ended up being lifted for pinch hitter Dylan Moore. Braves manager Brian Snitker doesn't think the injury is serious, though, and Albies could be in the lineup Thursday.

"He just fouled it off his knee - that really hurts, just stings you so much that it's unstable," Snitker told David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Better to get some ice on it. Probably be sore tomorrow, but I would think in another day he should be good."

Appearing in his third year of spring training with the big-league club, the infielder is once again making a strong impression, hitting .375 (6-for-16) with one double, one stolen base, and three walks heading into Tuesday's matinee at The Ballpark of Palm Beaches.